Dispensing device and method of dispensing articles



June 19, 1934. J. GOTTFRIED ET AL 1,963,521

DISPENSING DEVICE AND METHOD OF DISPENSING ARTICLES Filed July 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l W 4 INVENTORS. I y M j a 5PM F%RNEYS.

June 19, 1934. J. GOTTFRIED ET AL 1,963,521

DISPENSING DEVICE AND METHOD OF DISPENSING ARTICLES Filed July 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F igTZJ.

44 *Fiqti- 45 25 a I 3? O BYMJ M Patented June 19, 1934 ES PATENT v OFFICE v 1,963,521 DISPENSING DEVICE AND METHOD OF DISPENSING ARTICLES John Gottfried,-Brooklyn, andCharles H. Duel l,

New York, N. Y., assignors to International Cos metic Company, Inc, New York, N. Y., a corpo ration of New York Application July 18,1931, Serial No. 551,590

5 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices and to methods of dispensing articles, and, more particularly, to a coin-controlled device adapted to dispense all' manner of articles whether soft or hard, rigid or easily bent, and to dispense them in such a manner that they are delivered without being subjected to bending or distorting stresses.

A general object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which may be read- .ily and economically manufactured, and which-is eificientin operation and compact in form- A more specific object is to provide a dispensing device which is adapted to deliver articles stacked between the folds of a feeding web byperiodically advancing the web a distancesuflicient to expel an article from the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described, the feeding mechanism of which is locked against movement un- .tilreleased by the insertion of a coin into the device. 7

A still further object is to provide a device of the class described which is provided with means for re-locking the feeding mechanism after a single article has been ejected from the device.

A still further object is to provide a device of' the class described which has means for positively closing a coin slot upon the delivery of the last article from the device, and for maintaining the coin slot in closed condition until the device has been refilled;

A still further object is to provideadevice of" the class described which may be quickly andeasily filled with the articles to be dispensed.

A still further object is to provide a new method of dispensing articles, which comprises packaging them between the folds of a feeding web, placing the assembly within'a dispensing magazine and then successively ejecting the articles so pack- 1 aged by periodically advancing or withdrawing so much of the feeding web as may be necessary to cause a single article to be expelled from the magazine.

Other objects of the invention will-in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation and order of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts, which are'adapted to effect such steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and the scope of the applica-* tion of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understandingof the nature and objects'of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in con-' nection with the accompanying drawings, in'

which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device con- 00 structed in accordance'with the invention, the outer casing beingpartially broken away;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the device with the outer casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the .65 device shown in Fig. 2 at a more advanced stage in the operation of the ejecting mechanism;

. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the device'taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the device taken .70 along the line 5--5-of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the magazine with the outer casing and its associated parts removed, taken along-the line 6-6 in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment ofthe invention shown:in the drawings, the device comprises a magazine adapted to hold and position horizontally-stacked articlesll. These-articles are preferably stacked in connection with afeeding means, for'example,

a feeding web 12, in such a manner that the ar '80 ticles are placed between alternatefolds of the web, as shown, for example, in Fig. 5. The articles and feeding means are'preferably -assembledbe-: fore the-articles are placed within the magazine. The feeding means, aswill be explained hereafter; is preferably somewhat'narrower than the width of the articles placed betweenits folds, "so that positioning guides 13. associated with the magazine may act upon the ends. of the stacked articles while leaving the. folded web free. -When the articles are assembled with the feeding means," the folds ofthe web are preferably made somewhat deeper than the lengthofthe articles; as is shown in Fig. 5, so that a portion'of each fold of the feeding web may extend forwardly of the stacked articles in. the magazine and between the positioningguides l3.

Before the dispensing device is filled, the stacked articles, assembled with the feeding means, are preferably placed for handling in cartons; In order that the dispensing device may be readily filled; these cartons have been so designed that they may beplaced within the maga-' zineandleft there until thestacked articles have been dispensed. The-preferred type of carton which has been developed for this purpose will be explained more in detail hereafter.

Belowthe magazine a supportingbase 19' is provided and means for advancing or withdrawing the-feeding web are mountedtherein. -In the stacked.

embodiment of the invention shown this is accomplished by a pair of web--engaging rolls, rotated by manually operable driving means, which may be suitably locked against movement by coinreleasable locking means. Rotation of the rolls and withdrawal of a portion of the feeding web from the magazine cause the stacked articles to be successively ejected through a delivery chute.

The coin-releasable locking means is preferably adapted to permit the feeding web to be advanced by the rolls only sufficiently to eject a single article with the insertion of each coin of the desired denomination. When the magazine has been emptied, means are provided to block the entrance of the coin slot so that the device is efiectively locked against operation and against the insertion of any money until it has been refilled.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, an embodiment of the device is there shown comprising a magazine, preferably made with an open back and with two side walls 10. Adjacent the front edge of each of these side walls guide means are provided to position the stacked articles within the magazine. In the embodiment of the invention shown these guide members are vertical bars 13, adapted to either bear against the front edges of the stacked articles or against the front edges of the carton in which they are In either case the guide bars insure that the articles 11 will be maintained in the desired position within the magazine.

The feeding web is preferably of such width that it may pass readily between the guide bars.

"'As has been pointed out above, it is preferably so folded that when the articles to be vended are assembled with it, its folds extend forwardly of the front edges of those articles as shown in Fig. 5. When the articles and the web have been -assembled in this manner, the lowermost fold of the web rests upon a supporting cross-bar 14 positioned between the guide bars 13 at the bottom of the magazine. The stacked articles between the folds of the feeding web are kept from contact with the cross-bar or from resting upon it by the guide bars 13.

At the base of the magazine means are provided for supporting the column of stacked articles. In the embodiment of the invention shown this is accomplished by the plate 16 which extends across the rear of the magazine and is of sufiicient width to present an adequate support for the rear of the column of articles. Slightly in advance of this plate a roller 17, mounted in the walls of the magazine, may be provided. This roller is adapted to bear against the lower-most fold of the feeding web and aids in reducing friction as the web is withdrawn and the lowermost article ejected. When the articles stacked with the feeding web are of such a nature that they will not be injured by the removal of the broad support furnished by the rear plate 16, the roller 17 may itself be a suflicient support for the articles.

It will be apparent from the above description that while the articles in the magazine are supported primarily by the plate 16 and/or the roller 1'7, the feeding web 12 does itself furnish some support to the front of the column of stacked articles because of the fact that it rests upon the cross-bar 14, while the articles themselves do not.

' It is desirable, therefore, that the feeding web be made of material which is not only pliable, but which also has suflicient body to furnish some slight support to the column of stacked articles.

It has been found that paper and cloth are suitable materials for the feeding web.

As the device is intended to dispense soft, fragile and easily-bent articles, as well as the more sturdy and rigid type of merchandise, it is necessary that means be provided for slightly compressing the web and its associated articles in the magazine so that their proper positions therein may be assured. In the embodiment of the invention shown this is accomplished by the weight 15, which is slidable in the magazine and which bears upon the column of articles in such a way as to keep them in proper position, and more particularly to insure the proper positioning of the lower-most article in the colmnn as the feeding web is withdrawn and this article ejected from the device. The weight 15 should be only of such mass as to properly position the column without crushing any of the stacked articles.

As the feeding web is advanced or withdrawn from the magazine the forward portion of the lowermost fold is first pulled from above the supporting cross-bar 14, causing the forward portion of the column of stacked articles to sag slightly. Continued rotation of the web-engaging and -advancing means causes the web to be drawn firmly against the rear of the lowermost article in the stack, and as withdrawal of the web continues, this article is forced forward over the supporting plate 16 and the roller 17 until it falls upon a delivery chute 18 and is carried thereby into position for delivery to the customer. It has been found desirable to deflect downwardly the forward portion of the article as it is withdrawn from the magazine. To accomplish this, in the embodiment of the invention shown, the crossbar 14 is bevelled at its inner edge so as to give it a wedge-like cross-section, as shown in Fig. 5. This cross-bar may, in addition, be placed slightly above the rear supporting plate 16 and the roller 1'7, its height above these members being determined primarily by the thickness of the articles intended to be dispensed from the magazine and being such that the upper edge of the lowermost article will be brought into contact with the bevelled surface of the cross-bar as the article is advanced by the withdrawal from the magazine of the feeding web.

The delivery chute 18 is so positioned as to receive articles forced from the magazine by the withdrawal of the feeding web and is so shaped and positioned with respect to the front plate 37 as to permit the articles to slide freely down behind the plate to a point where they may be.

readily removed by the customer.

Below the magazine a base 19 is provided which may be integrally or detachably connected to the magazine. Within the base means are provided for advancing or withdrawing the feeding web from the magazine. In the form shown a pair of rollers 20, 21 is provided. One at least of these rollers is preferably made of resilient material, for example, rubber. The other be made of the same material or of some other and nonresilient material, as, for example, a metal. In the latter case the metallic roller should preferably be roughened or knurled where it makes contact with the resilient roller so that a firm frictional contact with the feeding web may be established between the rollers. The rollers are mounted in the base 19 under such friction that when rotary motion is imparted to one, the other also revolves.

In the form shown the rear roller 29 has been made removable to facilitate the proper positioning of the feeding web between the rollers when the magazine is filled. This roller is shown as mounted in the walls of the base 19. The end of the roller, not shown in the drawings, is mount- 'ed in a fixed pivot. The end of the roll shown in the drawings is mounted in an adjustable pivot comprising acurved slot 43 and a slidable locking member 44. This locking-member is shown in Fig. 2 as elevated to permit the withdrawal ofthe roller 20, and is shown in Fig. 3 as depressed, its wall, together with the slot 43, forming a bearing for the shaft of the roller 20. The slidable locking member 44 is preferably provided with a shaft-engaging slot 45 inclined slightly from the vertical so that wear on either of the feeding rollers 20, 21 may be compensated for.

The driving roll of the pair, 21 in the embodiment of the invention shown, is preferably made of such diameter that a single revolution thereof will cause a sufiicient length of the feeding web to be advanced to eject a single article.

Above the rotary means and below the article support 16 a removable guide 22 mounted in the walls of the base 19 may be provided to assist in feeding the web between the rollers.

Means, preferably manually operable, are provided to impart motion to the rolls. In the form shown this is accomplished by the bevelled gears 23, 24, the crank 25 and the shaft 26. If desired, a knob or other grasping means may be'substituted for the crank.

It is desirable forproper operation of the device that the web be fed only in one direction and that means be provided to prevent such rotation of the rollers as will feed the web back up into the magazine. This is accomplishedin the form of the invention shown by the ratchet 2'7 mounted on the shaft 26 and by the pawl 28 held in contact with the ratchet by the spring 29. Theratchet and pawl lock the device against impropermovement of the crank and rollers. I

' t is desirable also that no positive'or webwithdrawing movement be imparted to the rollers: until the insertion of a coin into the device. Coinreleasable locking means are accordingly provided to prevent such rotation of the rollers. In the embodiment of the invention shown this is accomplished by associating a suitable control. means with the crank shaft, for example, a cam.

30 havinga dog 31 mounted on the crank shaft,

as shown. Cooperating with this control meansis a weighted lever 32 freely pivoted at 33. The: weighted end of the lever in its normal position. rests against the surface of the cam adjacent the dog, as shown in Fig. 4,-and constitutes an eifec-- tive lock against movement of the shaft and rolls; The lever is so balanced that the addition to its lighter end of a coin of the proper denomination. (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3) will cause: the-lever to swing about the pivot 33 until it comes in contact with a restraining spring 34.. In this position (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) the weighted end of the lever has been raised so as to release the dog 31 from the block normally,

" interposed by the lever.

The restraining spring 34, which may be posi-- tioned as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or so as tomake contact with the upper surface of theweighted end of the lever as it swings about the pivot 33, prevents the lever from swinging to- 'neath the weighted end of the lever, the lever would s'wing back into locking position and the coin would be taken without the delivery of the desired article.

The cam 30 is provided with an eccentrically extended portion adapted to swing the lever against the action of the spring 34, as shown in Fig. 3, until'the coin is released from its contact with the coin slot and falls into a coin receptacle (not shown) in the base of the device.

Inasmuch as the weight of the coin, which swings the'lever 32, is not great, it is desirable that frictional resistance to the free swing of the lever about the pivot 33 be reduced as much as possible. Accordingly, the pivot 33 is preferably made loose, and in addition means may be provided to keep the dog 31 from close frictional engagement with the weighted end of the lever. In the form shown this is accomplished by means of a spring -36 mounted on the inside face of the front plate 37 and adapted to act against a post 38 on the cam 30 to force the cam back against the action of the ratchet and pawl and thus keep the dog 31 from frictional contact with the lever.

Within the base and below the web-advancing rotary means a chamber 39 may be provided for the reception of that portion of the web which has been drawn through the rollers. Removable guides 40 may also be provided adjacent the lower portion of-each roller to prevent the folded portion of the web which has already passed between the rollers from adhering to their surfaces, and thus retarding the effective operation of the device.

The rear wall of the casing of the device is hinged at its lower edge, as shown in Fig. 2, to the bottom wall. so that it may be swung-downwardly to expose the entire rear of the dispensing :mechanism. Suitable means are provided, for example, a clamp or lock, for maintaining the :rear wall of the device in closed position except when it is desired to refill the magazine.

To aid in refilling the magazine, thearticles 11 :may. be assembled between the folds of the feed- :ing web 12 in refill units of approximately the height of the magazine; These units may be placed in open-ended cartons 41 shown'in cross- .section in Fig. 6. These cartons are preferably made of approximately the shape of the articles to be dispensed and of such external dimensions 7 that they will fit snugly between the side walls 10 of the magazine. The bottom of the carton, when the refill unit is placed within the magazine, may serve as the rear wall of the magazine and may be held in place by the rear wall of the casing of the device or projections thereon. The cartonshave along their top, and for the full length thereof, an opening substantially the width of the distance between the guide-bars 13. The :folds of the feeding web extend through this opening so that when the carton is placed within the magazine the small projections 42 which constitute the top of the carton bear against the guide bars 13 and the folds of the feeding web 12 extend forwardly between the guide bars, as shown in Fig. 5.

The assembled refill unit may be conveniently held within the carton by bands which may be broken and withdrawn when the carton has been placed within the magazine and the device thus :filled.

Suflicient length of feeding web may be left 'unassembled with the articles at one end of the carton so that when the carton has been positioned within the magazine the web may be ;I

easily drawn down and positioned between the feeding rolls 20, 21.

The positioning weight 15 is preferably so shaped as to slide freely within the carton 41.

Means are provided to effectively block the coin slot 35 when the articles within the magazine have all been ejected. In the embodiment of the invention shown, this is accomplished by interposing an obstruction or block across the opening to the coin slot. A bell crank lever 46, pivoted at 47 to the front casing of the device, is provided. The lever is normally held in position permitting free access to the coin slot by the spring 48. A projection 50 on the front of the weight 15 is adapted to make contact with the lower portion of the lever 46 when the last stacked article has been ejected from th magazine. The projection 50 cams against the lower portion of the blocking lever 46 causing it to swing so that its upper end extends across the coin slot 35, effectively blocking the same and preventing the insertion of any coins. The lever 46 will remain in this blocking position until the dis pensing device has been opened and the weight removed for the inse tion of a refill unit, whereupon the spring 43 will cause the lever l6 to be withdrawn from its blocking position until contact is made with the restraining stud 49.

To prepare the device for operation the rear wall of the casing is unlocked and swung open. A carton containing a refill unit is then placed within the magazine and the weight 15 properly positioned upon the top of the refill unit. The lower end of the feeding web is carried down between the two web-engaging rolls. To facilitate this operation the rear roller may be removed and then replaced when the web has been properly positioned. The rear casing wall is then closed and locked and the device is in condition for vending.

The insertion into the coin slot of a coin of proper denomination releases for web-advancing or -withdrawing movement only, the rollerdriving means. As the roller-actuating means are turned the feeding web is advanced or withdrawn, first releasing the lowermost article for delivery and then positively ejecting by pressure against it. During the ejecting operation, the coin which has been inserted in the slot is released from contact therewith and falls into a coinreceptacle. After one complete revolution of the feeding rollers and the delivering of a single article the device is again locked against movement by the return to its normal position of the locking lever 32.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above process, and certain modifications in the article which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dispensing device, in combination, a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of articles stacked between folds of a folded Web, an article support adjacent one wall of said magazine, and means adjacent the opposite wall thereof for supporting said web and for deflecting downwardly articles moved into contact therewith.

2. In a dispensing device, in combination, a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of articles stacked between folds of a folded web, an article support adjacent one wall of said magazine, and means adjacent the opposite wall thereof comprising a beveled cross bar for supporting said web and for deflecting downwardly articles moved into contact therewith.

3. In a dispensing device, in combination, a magazine adapted to hold a plurality of articles stacked between folds of a folded web, an article support adjacent one wall of said magazine, means adjacent the opposite wall thereof for supporting said web and for deflecting downwardly articles moved into contact therewith, a delivery chute and web-engaging rotary means.

i. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising a folded web, a plurality of articles enfolded therein, a support for said web beneath said plurality and not in a vertical plane with the center of gravity of said plurality and a second support for said web not beneath said plurality whereby after a fold of said web is withdrawn from said second support, the article therein may be dispensed by withdrawing said fold from said first support.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising a folded web, a plurality of articles enfolded therein, in the folds which open in a predetermined direction, a support for said web beneath said plurality and on that side of the vertical plane containing the center of gravity of said plurality on which said folds are closed, and a second support for said web on the other side of said plane and not beneath said plurality whereby after a fold of said web is Withdrawn from said second support, the article therein may be dispensed by withdrawing said fold from said first support.

JOHN GOTTFRIED. CHARLES H. DUELL. 

